Box-filling machine.



Patented Juh 10, 1913.

B SHEETS-431M151 1.

w W m w M Patented June 10,1913.

0 SHEETS-SHEET :2.

mmmsm t hi J. W. DENMEAD.

BOX FILLING MAGHINE.

APPLIGATION 211.131) MAY 29, 1909.

Patented June 10, 1913.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

HM HI! J. W. DENMEAD.

BOX FILLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION mum MAY 29, 1909.

A Patented June 10, 1913.

Mu iw kw Nam J. W. DENMEAD.

BOX FILLING MACHINE.

APPLICIAIION TILED MAY29, 1009.

11. Q68 960, Patented June 10,1913. 9 1 c SHEETS-SHEET 0. L59 7 7WYMK'MWM n J. W. DENMEAD.

BOX FILLING MACHINE.

AIPLIUATIUN 11.31) MAY Z9A1909.

9 w M WWW 3% a Z j m my oit rittiit.

" "i i'N W. DENMEAD,- OF AKRON. OHIO ASSIGNOR TO THE DIAMOND MATCHCOMPANY,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

BOX-FILLING MACHINE.

u// vii/mm it may concern:

lle it. known that 1, JOHN IV. Des mean, a citizen of the United States,and resident of .tkron, in the county of Summit and State tit Ohio, haveinvented certain new and usel'ul Improvements in Roxdtilling ltlachines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for lilling boxes with matches, orthe like, having retrrence more especially to machines for lilting andclosing the trayaml-shuck torm oi box commonly employed :l'or holdingmatches. I

The object of my invention is to provide a machine of simple andcl'licient COllSlTl'llt'liUll and o 'ieration, whereby box trays shallbe delivered to a conveyer and transported thereby adjacent thedischarging end ol a match machine in a manner to receive the nnttchesas rapidly as they are produced; whereby shocks shall be t ed adjacentthe path of, and in accurate alinement with,-tl ie tilled box trays, andwhereby such, trays shall be unilormlyand positively inserted into theshacks presented thereto.

.\c ,-.ordingly my invention, stated generally, comprises various novelleatures ol constructitm and combinations of parts, all of which will hehereinafterdescribed and claimed. I

In the annexed drawings-Figure l is a plan of a box filling machineembodying my invention. Fig. S2 is a front ele 'ation thereo'l". Fig. 2)is a transverse vertical section on a plane through the devices forinserting the box trays inthe conveyor, as on the line I3--3 of Fig. 2.Fig. 41 is a similar section on a plane adjacent the devices for jarringthe conveyor, as on the line t'--'l, of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a similarsection on a plane through the devices for inserting the filled boxtrays into their shucks, as on the line fi -h, of Fig. 2, a box traybeing indicated in the tray conveyor, and a portion of theshtick-feeding chains and adjuncts being shown in elevation. Fig. 6 is atransverse section through the said chains, and the channeled shueksupporting frame, as on the line 6'(i, of Fig. 5; shucks being indicatedin end view in the channels of the frame. Fig. 7 is a transversesection, as on the line 7 7, of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a similar secti0n,'ason the line 8' 8, of Fig. 2. Fig. 9 is a longitudinal vertical sectionon a plane ad acent the devices tor feedlng the Specification of LettersPatent.

.latcntedtllune it), lfllit.

Application filed May 29, 1909. Serial No. 499,252.

box-shucks into position for the reception ot the box-trays, saiddevices being shown as retracted and in shuelecngaging position. Fig. 10is a similar section, showing the slmek-tetaling devices as advanced andout to view of two adjoining links of the traywon 7O veycr.

1. (Figs. 1 and indicates a. portion ol the endless m'atch carrier o'l.a match male ing l'naehine, from which carrier the finished matches aredischarged row by row in a continuous stream during the operation ol themachine.

Adjacent the discharging end of the match machine is a horizontal bed ortable 2,.upon the upper surface of which is a trough 3 in which isguided and supported the upper run ot an endless conveyor 4; whichpasses around sprocket wheels 5, (i, mounted at or near the respectiveends of the bed. is provided with a spur wheel S which meshes with apinion 9 on a transverse shaft 10 journaled in suitable hearings inbrackets 10 beneath the bed. The latter shaft bears a bevel wheel '1 '1which meshes with a wheel 12 on a shaft 13 which also is journaled inbearings beneath the bed and extends from end to end of the latter. Theshaft 19 is provided with a driving pulley .lel which is actuated From asuitable source of power,

and hence, through the gearing described, the power is transmitted tothe conveyor to impart continuous motion thereto longitudinally ol thebed. (Sec Figs. 1, 2 and The convevtu' ])rel'erably comprises metallinks jointed together to constitute an. endless chain and providedeach, at one end, with a transverse wall '15 along the 'upper edge ofwhich is an oppositely inclined shouldered portion 16. (Fig. Lil.)inensions ot the space between the opposite walls of adjoining links,below the overhanging shouldtns thereof, are equal to those Off thematch trays to be tilled, or substantially so, to the end that suchtrays may be 110 Fig. 13 is a transverse 65 The shaft T of one of thesewheels 85 The dibell crank lever 18 which is pivoted to a' readilyintroduced between the opposing walls of tinyconveyerg from one side ofthe latter, at a point in advance of the stream of falling matches;thence transported across the path of such stream to receive the matchesprogressively, and thence carried onward and discharged from theopposite side of the conveyor. The overhanging shordders preventvertical displacement of the box trays on the conveyer, and also assistin guiding and directing the descending matches to the trays.

The trays are inserted successively into" the holders of the conveyer bymeans of a plunger 17- which is reciprooative at right anglese to thedirection of travel of the conveyer. This plunger is slidingly fitted toways in a suitably disposed guide piece 17 on'the bed,-at, the righthand end thereof, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2,-and is perforated near itsouter end for the free passage of the extremity of the longer arm of abracket 18 depending'from the bed. The lower arm of the lever bears aroller 19 which runs in a cam way of a cam 20 on the shaft 13, thecontour of the cam way being such that the lever is quickly oscillatedat predetermined intervals, and the plunger perforce correspondinglyreciprocated at right angles to the direction of travel of the adjacentrun of the conveyer. (See Fig. 3.) In the present instance, the cam wayis a concentric groove interrupted at two diametrically opposite pointswith actuating portions 21, and henceduring each rotation of the. camthe plunger is twice reciprocated at intervals, with an extended dwellbetween the operations. .A ,box tray being fed in front of the plungerwhen it is retracted, the plunger upon its reciprocation impingesagainst theopposing end of the tray, quickly pushes the tray into theconveyor, and recedes; the relative speed of the parts being such thatnotwithstanding the continuous uninterrupted movement of the conveyor,the tray is accurately deposited therein.

While the box trays may be fed'to the path of the plunger in anysuitable manner,

I prefer to employ for this purpose, de-

vices of the following character: 22 (Figs.v

of the chute so that they can slide down therein in a continuousprocession. At or near the lower curved portion of the chute is acontinuously driven wheel 23 provided neldin 'l noon and esca Jin 'the03 30s.

. m l r;

peseo.

chutc during the rotation of the wheel and engage the trays and feedthem progressively toward the inserting plunger, the springs by virtueof their elasticity, riding 11g trays when the lowermost tray is inposition for engagement by the plunger. A suitably disposed stop 25maintains the tray in such position. The. shaft of the wheel 23 ismounted in a projecting bracket 2 on the chute, one end of the shaftbeing provided with a sheave or sheaves 25 against which bears acontinuously driven belt 26 passing from the pulley 27 on the shaft 13.The devices just described provide a simple and efiicient means foradvancing the trays to the inserting plunger; the yielding char actor ofthe springs, whilepositive and reliable in their feeding action,avoiding any liability of crushing the ends of the delicate traysengaged thereby, The trays thus presented to the plunger aresuccessively delivered to the holders of the conveyor and.

transported thereby across the stream of falling matches to receive thesame,'as above mentioned.

In order to agitate or jar the trays during and after the fillingthereof, and thus cause the matches to settle down snugly therein, I

provide for a slight though rapid vertical jarring of the conveyerduring its traveh To this end I journal in suitable boxes on the bed,longitudinally thereof, a rock shaft 28 (Figs. 1, 2, 4, 5 and 7)provided at inter vals in its length with arms'29 which extend towardthe conveyer and are provided with tappet fingers 30 that lie beneatht-he latter, whereby when the shaft 28 is rapidly oscillated thevibrating tappet fingers contact with the underside of the conveyer andeffectively jar the same. In the present in- ,stance the arms areprovided with split bosses 31 which are held together and adjustablysecured to the shaft by screws 32 whereby said arms, or anyof them, maybe nicely adjusted in a vertical arc with respect to the conveyer toimpart a more or less ex- (See a less degree of jarring is needed thanduring the filling thereof.

A depending arm 33 on the shaft 28 engages the scalloped periphery of acam 36L on the shaft 13, and .is held'in contact therewith by a 'spring35 which encircles a stem 36 extending from the arm.33, and bearsagainst a nut or head on the free extremity of the stem and against abracket Il. a 1.5 1.1;, 96 t) pending from the bed. Thus during theoperation of the machine the cam and spring cooperate to impart acontinuous series of short, rapid oscillations to the arm 31-, and itsconnectimms.

As a simple and cllicient means to remove surplus matches endwise fromthe box-trays. a brush tlS is mounted to rotate above and t'ansvcrselyof the conveyor at a point bcyond the source of match supply. This brushpreferably conmrises a series of radial brush members aliixed to a hub35) fast on a shaft t0 which extends longitudinally of the conveyor andis journaled in hearings in the sidcsof a casing L0"- supported by thetrough. One end of the shaft extends outwardly beyond the side of thecasing and is provided with a; ulley ll which is connected by means 0 abelt 42 with a pulley 4:33 on the shaft 13 whereby the brush rapidlyrotated in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 13, in a mannerto sweep down upon and across the tops of the subjacent filled boxes andremove the surplus matches cndwi'se therefrom. Such matches are sweptinto a chute 4.4 leading from the interior of the casing to a dischargeopening in the table.

It will be observed, by reference to Fig. 2, that one of the arms 29 ismounted adjacent the vertical plane of the rotating brush, so as to actupon the conveyer as it progresses beneath the brush, and hencc,theconsequent vertical jarring of the conveyor atthis point insures theetlicient contact with the brush of the superfluous matches containedwithin the box trays.

The trays (a) tilled with matches are transported by the conveyor t tothe devices for ejecting the trays and inserting them into the, shacks(b). I preferably eject two trays simultaneously from the conveyor andinsert then into two SllllCliS properly positioned'anc supportedadjacent the conveyor in line with the trays, as by such twin ejectingand inserting operation the working capacity of the machine ismaterially enhanced without the otherwise necessity of running theconveyor at an undue rate of speed.

Referring to the ejecting and inserting dc vices herein illustrated.1-5, (Figs. 1 and 5) designates two parallel pluugers reciprocativo atright angles to the direction of travel of the conveyor so as toenterlw'o adjacent holders and push the tilled trays therefrom. Theseplungcrs are mounted in a carriage in which is reciprocativelongitudinally of the bed, as hereinafter described. whereby, when theplungers are within the conveyor they are moved onward therewith, butwhen they are ret'racted from the conveyor they a re moved reversely ofthe direction of travel of the latter into position for a similaroperationupon.the trays in the two succeedllT dcl ing holders of theconveyor, and so on. The

carriage comprises a horizontal 'plate 17; a. bracket portiorror framet8 depending therefrom and a slide 49 formed on or atlixcd to a lowerhorizontal limb of such portion, the slide being fitted tolongitudinally extending guideways 50 on the underside of the bed. (Fig.The bracket is provided with a pair of spaced depending webs or arms 51in which is journaled a rock shaft 52. Rising from this shaft is an arm53, the upper end of which has a pin-amtslot connectionwith a dependinglug on a slide 5 t'which is titted to appropriate guidc- 'ays in theupper surface of the plate =17 so as to be movable horizontally towardand from the conveyor. (See Figs. 5 and '7.) One end of the shaft 52 isprovided with t crank arm 55 having a laterally extending stud or roller.3!- which bears upon the pi riphcry of a cam 57 on tl shaft 13. Thestud or roller 56 is held in co'ntact with the cam ST hy means of aspring 58 convenientl secured to the arm and to the bracket, and thecontour of the cam is such that during an interval of its relationtheflcrank shaft is oscil lated in a manner to reciprocate the slide 5i,that is to say, in a portion of the rotation of the cam the slide ismaintained thereby in retracted position; in another portion the slideis being moved toward the conveycr by the action of the spring, and inthe remainder ofthe rotation the slide is being retracted by the camagainst the stress of the spring.

The plungers 45 are carried by the slide so as to be movable therebytoward and from the conveyor, the inner or acting ends of the plungcrsprojecting beyond the adjacent end of the slide in order to permit theirentrance conveyor. These plungers are mounted to have capacity forlongitudinal. movement relatively to the slide 5t and independently ofeach other, so that one or the other plunger :an perfmrm its functionirrcspmwtive of any imperfection in the operation of its companion,arising, for example, from a defective or crushed tray or sliuck, orother irregularity. To this end, the plungers are slidingly titted toparallel guide ways in they upper surface of the slide 5t, and eachplunger is provided with an upwardly prm jecting lug 58 from whichextends rear wardly a stem 5%) that passes freely through a. perforatedguide piece (it) on the slide. ltlncircling the stem between the lug andguide piece, is a spring ()1 which, while permitting yielding retractionof thc-plunger, yct maintains the plunger normally he yond the inner endof the slide. Thus, it will be seen that when the slide is advancedtoward the conveyor. the acting ends of the plungers are causedsimultaneously to enter the holders and push the filled box trays intoand retraction from the head below the recess orthroat such upper 71,encircling the rod, bears against the appurtenances.

' ed and arranged to receive two rows of boxv I pending from asupporting frame which exthe slide and the other plunger. The outer 1'preferably provide the inner end of each Q filled tray has been-fullyentered into the -is reciprocated longitudinally of the bed therefromand into the shucks presented thereto; but if the progress of eithertray be accidentally retarded, as above indicated, the movement of theopposing plunger will be discontinued without in any way afl'ec-t ing orimpairing the continued travel of ends of the stems 59 are preferablyscrew threaded and provided with nuts 62 which take against the guidepiece 60 and thus permit the nice adjustment of the plungers in relationto the slide and conveyer.

of the plungers with ahead 63 having in its inner face a horizontalrecess or throat (34 substantially in the same horizontal plane 'as'theupper edge of the shuck, and with an overhanging under-beveled lip 65immediately above the re'cess, whercby when the shuck, by the action ofthe portion of the edge is engaged by 'the beveled surface of the lipend pressed thereby slightly downward below the proximate edge of thetray; the recess or throat receiving the upper edge of the shuck as theproximate end of the tray is slightly advanced beyond such edge, andthus insuring the efficient action of the lip on the opposing upper edgeof the shuck.

As hereinbeforementioned, the carriage while the phingers are within thetraveling conveyer. A- simple and efficient means for this purpose is asfollows: A'llixed to the shaft 13 is a face cam 65 against th actingsurface of which bears a stud or roller 66 on anarm 67 depending fromthe carriage slide. (See Fig. 2.) Depending also from the slide is abracket 68 to which is secured one end of ahorizontal rod ($9, the otherend of which is slidingly fitted to a perforated guide piece 70 aflixedto the bed. A spring guide piece and the bracket, thus maintaining thestud or roller 66 in operative contact with the cam 65. Hence during theciprocat'ion of the plunger carriage and its 72 (Figs. 1, 5, G and 7)indicates two endless horizontally-travel ng conveyers mount-- shucksand feed them progressively toward the bed. These'conveyers arepreferably ordinary sprocket chains provided at intervals with suitablestuds or lugs 73 to engage and impel the boX-shucks when the latter areimposed upon 'or in the path of the chains by an attendant. The chainspass around sprocket wheels 74, the shafts 7 5 of which have theirbearings in suitable brackets detends rearwardly from the bed or table.

This frame in the present instance includes a bar or bed piece 76 havingtherein two shucks deposited "therein; the bottoms 20f the'channelshaving medial depressions or ways 78 for the passage of the upper runsof the chains '72. (Fig. 6.) The shaft-75 of the forward sprocket wheelsis provided with a ratchet wheel 76" with the teeth of which engages apawl 77 on a rock arm 78 which is loosely hung on said shaft andconnected by means of aarod 79 with the strap of an eccentric 80 on theshaft 13, By this construction the forward shaft 7 5, and, perforce, itssprocket wheels and the chains are intermittently impelled in a mannerto advance the box-shucks'toward the bed or table.

t The forward sprocket wheel is mounted somewhat in rear of the bed ortable so that the shu'cks, as they leave the chains, pass upon that partc; the frame 76 between the wheel and the bed, and these shucks are thenimpelled by the advanbing train of shucks in rear thereof and depositedin pairs upon the bed, or rather upon a slide bar 81 hereinafterdescribed which is mounted on the bed adjacent to and longitudi-.

nally of the conveyer.

A U-shaped member 82-pivoted to a support 83 on the frame 7 6 overhangsand rests upon the shucks as they leave the chains, and thereby exertssufficient friction upon the shucks to prevent their displacement.

hen two shucks are deposited upon the slide bar 81 they are engaged bysuitable devices and thereby positively moved longi-' tudinally of thebed into the path of the filled trays which are being ejected from theconveyer. These devices in their preferred form, are as follows: Theslide bar 81 is fitted to waysin a lon it udinally disposed guide piece82 on the bed, the upper surface of the slide bar being very slightlybelow'the horizontal plane of the bottoms of the box trays in the upperrun of the conveyer. Depending from the slide bar through appropriateopenings in the guide piece and table, is an arm v83 on the lower end ofwhich is a roller 84 which bears against 'an appropriate peripheral cam85 on a transverse shaft 86 having its hearings in the brackets 1Obeneath the table, the said roller being held in operative engagementwith the cam by means ofa spring 87 which is'suitably secured to thebracket and to the table. On the shaft 86 is a gear wheel 88 in meshwith a gear wheel 89 on the driven shaft 10, whereby, during theoperation of the machine, the shaft 86 and its cam 85 are rotated in 'amanner to effect, in conjunction with the spring and associatedparts,--the requisite reciprocation of the slide bar; On

one end of a head 91 which is movable in a vertical are toward and fromthe slide bar 81. This head comprises a plate having on its under side aseries of equally spaced depending walls or jaws, of which, in thepresent instance, there are three, namely, two side jaws, 92 and anintermediate jaw 93. Two parallel chambers or space are thus formed onthe underside of the head, each space being equal to the width of ashuck, or substantially so. The head, with its walls or jaws, ispreferably longitudinally slotted or bifurcated for a purpose presentlyexplained. NVhen the head is in its position to the right, and swungdownward, as viewed in Figs. 9 and 11, the two spaces snugly receive thetwo shacks which havepreviously been advanced upon said bar by the feeddevices above mentioned. If then the slide bar be moved to the left (asin Fig. 10) these two shucks will be carried thereby directly in linewith the two ejecting plungers, and moved concurrently therewith andwith the traveling 'conveyer, and hence the two tilled boxes, as theyare being expressed from the conveyer by the plunger-s, will be forcedend wise into the opposing shucks. If the head then be swung above theshucks (as in Fig.

i 10) the slide can be retracted for a succeeding-operation upon anotherpair of shucks.

The means for periodically oscillating the head is as follows: At thepivoted end of the head 91 is'a lug 92 to which is pivoted one end of arod 93 which is slidingly fitted to perforations in guide brackets94t95, affixed to the slide bar and table, respectively. A spring 96encircling the rod 93 bears against a shoulder ,97 thereon and againstthe opposite side ofthe bracket 94-, thereby tending to force the rodtoward the head 91 and thus maintain such head normally in downposition. Pivoted to the bracket 94, is a latch arm-or trigger 98 "whichis held normally raised by means of a spring 99 secured thereto and tothe bracket. ()n the rod 93, to the right of the bracket 94 as viewed inFigs. 9 and 10, is a collar 100 provided on its underside with a toothor shoul der 101, which is so arranged that when the rod is movedbackward, against the stress of the spring 96, that is, to the right, atooth on the free end of the trigger will engage the tooth or shoulder101 and thus keep the rod in retracted position with the head raised.but if the trigger be depressed from engagement with the tooth orshoulder 101, the rod 93 will be caused to resume its normal posit-ionwith the head depressed. On one side of the trigger is a tappet stud 102in the path of which, during the horizontal travel of the rod, is thebeveled end 103 of a horizontal arm 104 which is formed on or affixed toa member rising from the bracket .95J'lhis beveled end constitutes, ineffect,

a cam winch is so arranged that as the slide ()n the outer end of therod 93 is a collar 105 which is so disposed that as the slide rodreaches the end of its stroke to the left, the collar abuts against theopposing side of the bracket 95, thereby slightly retracting the rodagainst the force of the spring 96 and 'aising the head above the boxes.At the .same time, the toothed collar 101 being retracted, is engaged bythe trigger, thereby temporarily locking the head in elevated position.The slide bar is then retracted as before for a repetition of theoperation just described.

The collar 105 adjustably held on the rod 93 by a set screw or the like,and is preferably so adjusted that it engages the bracket and eilectsthe elevation of the head 91 just before the filled boxv trays have beencompletely inserted into their shucks, the object being to obviate anyliability of undue pressure and friction upon the heads of the matchesat this time. It is to be noted that the heads of the matches arelocated at the ends of the trays against which the plungers bear, andhence the member 91 is raised, as above indicated, to permit the tops ofthe shucks to yield for the aecon-imodation of any match heads thatproject slightly above the tops of the match trays.

I preferably ailix to the head a bracket piece having an under beveledlip or ledge 106 which overhangs the upper entrance edge of the head,and having also depending beveled extensions 109 which lie in front ofthe walls 92, 9 5. The ledgeand extensions atl'ord shoulders orabutments for the opposing ends of the shucks within the head, and thebeveled surfaces presented to the ends of the'filled trays facilitatethe in- [reduction of the latter to the shocks. lvloreover, the underbeveled surface of the ledge performs the function of a cam to forceback into the trays any matches that may be. projecting slightly beyondthe lead-- ing. ends of the trays...

The head 91 as it bears and feeds succeeding pairs of shucks to positionfor the reception of the filled trays, impinges against the opposingboxes previously-acted upon, and thus advances them along the table todischarging position.

I preferably provide on the table a bar 108' which overhangs andsupports the shacks the filled trays are being inserted lhereinto, andalso the complete boxes as they are being advanced to dischargingposition. Thisbar is allixcd at one end to a its suitably disposedbracket 109 on the guidepiece 82 and extends longitudinally of and abovethe slide bar. At the free end of the bar 108 is a yielding dogor'finger 110' which is arranged to engage the upper edge of therearward shuck when the two shucks a series of inclined spring fingers112 which" bear yieldingly upon and steady the boxes during theirtravel.

In order to accommodate the free end of the bar the forward end of theshuck feeding head is slotted or bifurcated, as above mentioned and asshown most clearly in Figs. 5 and 11, the two limbs of the head beingconnected by a bridge piece 112.

While I have herein shown and described a preferred form of embodimentof my invention, it is to be understood that I do series of elasticfingers extending outwardly not limit myself strictly thereto, as themechanism may be variously modified without departing from the fairspirit of the invention.

I claim v 1. In abort-filling machine, the combination with a source ofmatch supply, an end- ;less conveyer for box-trays arranged to traveladjacent saiu source of supply, and means for continuously moving saidconveyer, of continuously-operating means for yieldingly feeding trayslaterally of said conveyer to a point in advance of the source ofsupply, astop acting in opposition to the tray-feeding means to checkthe movement of the leading tray laterally of the conveyer, and means toengage said tray, and push it to the conveyer transversely thereof.

In a box-filling machine, the combina tion with a source of matchsupply, an end less conveyer for box-trays arranged to travel adjacentsald source of supply, and.

means for continuously moving said conveyer, of a chute or guide-way forbox-trays, a continuously-rotating tray-feeding wheel adjacent saidchute or way provided with a and rearwardly from the path of rotation ofsaid wheel, and adapted yieldingly to engage and advance the traysconsecutively,

means for rotating said wheel, a stop acting in opposition to thetray-feeding means to check the movement of the leading tray laterallyof theconveyer, a plunger for engaging said tray and pushing it to theconveyer transversely thereof, and means for actuating said plunger.

3. In a boxfilling machine, the combina- 'tion with a source of matchsupply, an endless conveyer for box trays arranged to traveladjacentsaid source of supply, and

means for continuously moving said ,conveyer, of a chute or guide-wayfor box-trays, a continuously-rotating tray-feeding wheel adjacent saidchute or way provided on its periphery with a series of light curvedsprings constituting fingers -which extend outwardly and rearwardly fromthe path of rotation of the wheel, and adapted yieldingly to engage andadvance the trays consecuti'vely, means for rotating said wheel,

a stop-acting in opposition to the action of said fingers to check themovement of the leading tray laterally of theconveyer, a plunger forengaging said tray andpushing 'it to the conveyer transversely thereof,and

means for actuating said plunger.

it. In a .box filling machine, the combination with an endless conveyerfor box-trays,

of a rock-shaft adjacent said conveyer, a ser1es of tap'pet membersarranged at inter- 'vals along said shaft and extended in proximity tothe conveyer, and means for oscillating said shaft,*whereby the saidmembers are simultaneously agitated and a vertical jarring actionimparted to the conveyer at various points of its travel.

5. In a box filling machine, .the combination with an endless conveyerfor box-trays, of a rockashaft adjacent said conveyer, a series oftappetmembers arranged at intervals along said shaft and extended in proximityto the conveyer, means for adjusting said members about the axis of theshaft, and means for oscillating said shaft, where: by the said membersare simultaneously actuated and a variable vertical jarring actionimparted to the conveyer during its progress.

tion with a conveyer for box-trays, of a brush mounted to rotate in aplane directly over and transversely of the conveyer about an axisextending longitudinally of the path of travel of the conveyer andthereby remove surplus matches endwise from the trays while beingcarried by the conveyer, and means for rotating said brush;

7. In a box filling machine, the combination with .a conveyer forboxtrays, of a brush mounted to rotate in a plane directly overandtransversely of the conveyer about an axis extending longitudinally ofthe path.

of travel of the conveyer and thereby remove surplus matches endwisefrom the trays while being carried by the conveyer, a casing withinwhich the brush is mounted, and means for rotating said brush.

8. In a box-filling machine, the combination with a source of matchsupply, and an endless traveling conveyer for box-trays arranged intravel adjacent said source of 6. In a box, filling machine, theeombina- Supply, of a brush mounted to rotate in a plane directly aboveand transversely of the conveyor about an axis extending longitudinallyof the path of travel ol. the conveyor, and thereby sweep surplusmatches in the direction of their length from the trays and beyond theside of the conveyor while the filled trays are being carriedby saidconvcyer, and means for imparting a vertical jarring action to theportion of the conveyer passing beneath the brush.

9. 'In a box-filling machine, the. combina' tion with a source of matchsupply, an endless conveyer for box-trays arranged to travel adjacentsaid source of supply, means for continuously moving said conveyor, andmeans for ejecting the filled trays transversely of the conveyor, of asource of shuck supply, and means for feeding shncks therefrom to thepath otthe filled trays immediately where they are ejected from theconveyer, and for moving said shucks in a path laterally adjacentto andlongitudinally of the conveyor.

10. In a box-filling machine, the combination with a source of matchsupply, an end less conveyer for box-trays arranged to travel adjacentsaid source of supply, means for continuously moving said conveyor, andmeans moving in the direction of travel of the conveyor for ejecting thefilled trays transversely of the convcyer, of a source of shock supply,and means for feeding shucks therefrom to the path of the filled traysim mediately where they are ejected from the conveyor and for movingsaid shucks in a path laterally adjacent to and longitudinally of theconveyor.

11. In a box filling machine, the combination with a conveyor for boxtrays, of means for ejecting the trays transversely of the conveyer, ahead for feeding shucks to the path of-the trays immediately where theyare ejected from the conveyor, means for reciprocating said head in apath laterally adjacent to and longitudinally of the corn veyer, andmeans for supplying shocks to said head.

12. In a box filling machine, the combination with a support for aplurality oi box trays, of a plurality of plunger-s lor simultaneouslymoving the trays endwise from their support, a slide in which saidplungers have capacity for movement indcpernlently of each other towardand from the tray support, independent spring connections be tween theplungers'andthe slide, and means for reciprocating saidslide toward andfrom the tray support.

13. In a box filling machil'le, the combinir. tion with a conveyor forbox-trays, of a pin rality of plnngers for simultaneously ejecting acorresponding number of trays from the conveyor, a slide in which saidplungers have capacity for movement independently of each othertowardand from the conveyor, independent spring connections between theplungers and the slide, and means for reciprocating said slide towardand from the con veyer.

1 1-. In a box filling machine, the combination with a cimveyer forbox-trays, and means for continuously moving said con veyer, of aplurality of plungers for siniuh taneously ejecting it( UII'PSPOIMllIIQnumber of trays from the conveyor. a slide in which said plungers havecapacity for movement independently of each other toward and from theconveyor, independent spring connections between the plungers and theslide, a carriage in which said slide is supported, means forreciprocating said slide toward and from the conveyor, and means forreciprocating the carriage and itsappurtenances longitudinally of theconveyer.

1.5. In a box filling machine having provisions for supporting a trayand shuck in endwise alinement, a plunger for moving a tray endwise intoits shuck; the forward or acting end of said plunger having in its innorface, immediately above the portion thereof" which impinges against theoppos ing end of the tray, a recess or throat for the reception of theadjacent upper edge of the shack, and having imn'iciliately above saidrecess or throat an overhanging undenbeveled lip for engaging the upperedge of the shock. and means for actuating the plunger.

16. In a box filling machine, the combination with a conveyor forbox-trays, and means for su i 'iortin boxshncks adjacent said conveyor,of a plunger for moving the trays transversely of the conveyerand intothe opposing shucks, the, forward or acting head of said plunger havingin its inner face, innnediately above the portion thereof which impingesagainst the opposing end of the tray, a recess or threat for thereception of the adjacent upper edge of the shuch', and havinginnncdiately 'above said recess or throat an overhanginglllltlLF-l)OHlNhll]) for engaging the upper edges of the shuclts, andmeans 121' actuating the plunger.

17. In a box filling machine, the combination with a support for a boxtray, of a chambered head for supporting a box shuck cndwise oi thetray, the inner upper cdge of said head having an l|nderbeveled lip orledge, and means "for moving the tray endwise into the shuclt.

18. In a box filling machine. the combimv tion with a support for a boxtray, of a. clnmibered head for su 'rporling a box shnck endivise oi thetray, the inner upper edge .of said head having an muler-beveled lip orledge and the inner ends ol the side walls of said head having beveledshoulder portions, and means for moving the tray endwise into theopposing shucle 19. In a box filling machine, the combination with asupport for a box tray, and means for moving the tray endwise therefrom,of a chambered head for engaging a ledge, and means for actuating saidhead. a 1 21. In a boxfillmg machine, the combination with a conveyerfor box-trays, and means for ejecting the trays transversely of theconveyer, of a chambered head for engaging box-shucks and feeding themto the path of the trays, the inner upper edge of said head having anunder-beveled lip or "ledge, and the inner ends of the side walls havingbeveled shoulder portions, and means for actuating said head. v

22. In a box filling machine, the combination with a conveyer forbox-trays, and means for ejecting the trays transversely of theconveyor, of a chambered head for en ga.ging-box-shucks and feeding themto the path of the trays, a member to which the head is pivoted, meansfor reciprocating the said member longitudinally of the conveyor, andmeans for periodically oscillating the head. i V

23. In'a box filling machine, the combination with a conveyer forbox-trays, and

means for ejecting the trays transversely of the conveyer, of achambered head. for engaging box-shuclrs and feeding them to the path ofthe trays, a member to which the head is pircted, means forreciprocating the said member longitudinally ot the conveyer, arodextending from the said member, a spring acting upon said rod tomaintain the head normally in down position, stop devices for retractingthe. rod at or near the limit of movement of the said memberin thedirection of travel of the conveyer,a;device to lock the rod temporarilyin retracted position, and means for unlocking the rod at or near thelimit of movement of the said mem-- ber in the opposite direction.

24. In a box filling machine, the combination witha support for a boxtray, and

means for moving the tray endwise therefrom, of a head for engagln a boxshuck and feeding it to the path of t. e tray, means is advanced bytheheadto tray-"receiving position. 1

25. In a box filling machine, the combination with a conveyer forbox-trays, and means for ejecting the trays transversely of theconveyor, of a head for engaging box shucks and feeding them to the pathof the trays, means for actuating the head, and a stop device to engagethe upper edge of the shuck when it is advanced to tray-receivingposition by the head.

26. In a box filling machine, the combination with a conveyer forbox-trays, ofmeans for ejecting the trays transversely of the Iconveyer, a head for engaging the box shucks and feeding-them to thepath of the trays, means for actuating the head, a shuck-conveyer for,feeding shucks to the head, and means for actuating the shuck conveyer.r

27. In a box filling machine, the combination with an endless conveyorfor box trays, and means for continuously moving said conveyer, of aplunger for inserting the trays in said conveyer, means forreciprocating said plunger, means for feeding trays between said plungerand conveyor, a source of match 1 supply to and past which the containedtrays are carried by the conveyer, a

plunger bymeans of which the trays when they have passed the source ofsupply are ejected from the conveyor, means whereby said latter plungeris concurrently recipro- JOHN IV. DENMEAD.

Witnesses:

TOM A. PALMER, B. 0. Ross.

